Bowlby's Monotropic Attachment Theory

Attachment is best defined as...

• a close, emotional bond between child and caregiver.

• the result of a child's early experiences with others after birth.

• the cause of deprivation and privation in early childhood.

Bowlby suggested that children have a bias towards one individual to which they are most attached to (usually the biological mother). This is also called...

• Privation

• Deprivation

• Monotropy

• Internal Working Model

Which are examples of social releasers?

• Exploring their environment

• Crying

• Smiling

• Distress at separation

Social releasers are innate behaviours that babies use to help promote proximity or a response from carers. True or False?

• True

• False

Bowlby suggested that the child's early attachment experience forms a basis for future relationships. Eg. an insensitive mother and insecure attachment may make a child grow to be less resilient or dependent. This concept is known as...

• Monotropy

• Imprinting

• Safe Base

• Internal Working Model

Schaffer & Emerson (1964) found that by 18 months old, most babies have multiple attachments, not just one primary attachment.

• Strength: Supports Bowlby's monotropy

• Weakness: Conflicts with Bowlby's monotropy

• Both

Schaffer & Emerson (1964) found that babies with multiple attachments had one particular attachment who they protested more intensely at separation from.

• Strength: Supports Bowlby's monotropy

• Weakness: Conflicts with Bowlby's monotropy

• Both

Bowlby said that attachments have evolved because they are adaptive.

• True

• False

Which of the following is important for forming attachments according to Bowlby?

• Food

• Secondary drives

• Conditioning

• Social releasers

Which of the following is true of Bowlby's view on a critical period?

• He did not believe there was a critical period at all

• He believed that the critical period was the first few weeks of life

• He believed there was a sensitive period of about 2 years, after which attachments were harder to form